5 years on, still no action taken against BWSSB

Nov 23, 2011, 06:57 IST
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Johnlee Abraham

With mounting concerns regarding the dumping of effluents that led to severe pollution in the Bellandur and Kaggadasapura Lake, the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had filed criminal complaints against three officials of the BWSSB for negligence

With mounting concerns regarding the dumping of effluents that led to severe pollution in the Bellandur and Kaggadasapura Lake, the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had filed criminal complaints against three officials of the BWSSB for negligence.

However, five years later, according to sources in the board, the matter was stalled due to governmental pressure and no action is being taken against the accused.

Insistent pressureFurthermore, what is more stifling is that senior officials from the state secretariat have been allegedly putting pressure on KSPCB officials and trying to delay proceedings.

"It's difficult to file a complaint against government officials, as top officials interfere with procedures. It would take at least four to five years to get any outcome " said an official from KSPCB, on condition of anonymity.

"Many such cases have been registered, but it takes years to get the accused prosecuted. Until now only one municipal commissioner was prosecuted in 2006, but even he got a stay," said the official.

While concerted efforts are being made to get the officials prosecuted, an official revealed that 39 similar criminal complaints have been made against officials of BBMP and other town municipal corporations across the state.

As per the complaints filed in 2006, it states that due to the failure of BWSSB in preventing pollution, sewage generated from the nearby villages of G M Palya, Kaggadaspura and Malleshpalaya was directly let into the Kaggasapura Lake.

While the second complaint states that BWSSB officials were discharging untreated effluents from its treatment plants into the Bellandur Lake that led to the formation of foam.

It also further has been stated in the complaint that inaction and omissions on the part of the accused persons are serious in nature, as it has resulted in damage to the sensitive eco system around the lake areas.

"Despite several proposals and audits, the BWSSB did not taken care of matters relating to discharge of effluents into lakes. We then had to file criminal cases against the concerned officials," said KSPCB Chairman A S Sadashivaiah.

The Other Side"The matter is still in the court, but we have come up with an action plan, which is being implemented and will eventually help in curbing pollution," said V C Kumar, BWSSB executive engineer.